THE three graduates of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R), who made it to top 10 of May 2017 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) board exam, shared their success stories.
Harold Panerio Pacaña, who placed sixth in the exam with a rating of 91 percent, only dreamed of passing the board exam to help his parents who look to him as their only hope. He never expected to land in the top 10.
"I am the only hope of my parents. My father works as a family driver and my mother is a house caretaker and they see me as their only hope who could take them out from poverty," said Pacaña in Cebuano.
He said he sacrificed his social life as part of his preparation to maximize his time to review.
"During the review I really had lesser time to socialize and lesser time for myself. I even cancel my plans going to movie theaters just to maximize my time for self-review even if I also attended in review centers," he said.
On the day of the releasing of result Pacaña shared how he kept himself busy just to forget that he is nervous and scared of the idea that he might fail.
But he was so surprised after he knew that he ranked sixth and shouted while riding on a motorcycle with his father.
Marie Claire Rodis Cortes, who ranked seventh with a score of 90.67 percent, said she always dreamed to be one of the topnotchers in the CPA exam.
"Ever since goal jud nako na ma top ko and during my preparation for the board exam I studied more on the subject na lisod para nako," she said.
"During the exams I was worried because it was so tiring and I wanted to cry but I told myself that I can do this," she added.
Cortes, who graduated magna cum laude, burst into tears while sharing that she had to skip the burial of her two grandparents just to focus on her review.
As the result came out, Cortes couldn't believe what she heard from the news.
"My friend was the one who told me about the result and I immediately checked the PRC website to confirm the result and told my parents that I ranked seventh," she said.
For the past five months, Jessele Ann Gingosa Echavez spent her night and days reviewing for the board exam.
"During the day I go to the review center and at night I study on my own. That's how I prepared for the exam," she said.
Echavez, who shared the 7th place with Cortes, gave her best shot during the exam.
"I gave up my doubts and focused on the thought that I have to conquer the exam," Echavez said.
The three topnotchers are scholars of Sycip Gorres and Velayo and they are set to work in the accounting firm. Also each will receive P75,000 and a laptop from USJ-R as a reward. (Airland Sala and Claire Roche, CNU Interns/SunStar Cebu)